Cross Cultural

Management
Media Case
Closing the Achievement Gap without Widening a Racial One

The New York Times

History and Background

Most African-Americans are decendants from captive Africans held in the U.S.A from 1619 to 1865 1619, the first slaves are brought to Virginia by a Dutch ship that sells them as servants 1641, Massachusetts is the first colony to legalize slavery 1700, All colonies had slavery (2% servants in the North and 25% plantation workers in the South (around 10% of population)

History And Background

1775, G. Washington bans recruitment of Black slaves

further

1819, there are 11 free and 11 slave states

1830, there are 319,000 free Blacks in the U.S.A, developing communities and gradualy forming the Black middle class 1863-65, Lincoln abandons slavery, the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments are made in the constitution

The Black population is still facing detriments in the United States, revealed in the so called achievement gap On average, white students outperform black students (in primary, middle and high school) The average grade of a black student is a C plus, while the average mark of whites is a B plus

Closing the Achievement Gap without Widening a Racial One

Closing the Achievement Gap without Widening a Racial One

79 percent of black families are in the bottom 50 percent financially whereas 72 percent of white families in the top 50 percent Researches showed that black families raise their children less academically oriented and own on average less books than white families Dr.Ferguson: Black families need to build stronger intellectual lives at home.

Analysis
Some previous Theories about Achievement Gap:

John Ogbu (African-born Berkeley Professor):

Achievement Gap is caused by cultural behavior, e.g. black students mocking fellow hard working black students for acting white

Charles Murray (Co-Author of The Bell Curve): Achievement Gap due to lower inherited

Fergusons Theory
Lower academic performance of African-Americans is caused mainly by cultural reasons
Iceberg Model:

Achievement Gap Differences in upbringing inherent in culture More collectivistic culture

African-Americans had to unite several times throughout history to achieve equality and banish slavery, which has led to a more collectivistic culture than the white society

Dr. Ferguson

Perfect example of the collective culture:

of

Already in his childhood, he strived to become someone who can help the community, instead going for a popular job or a successful career.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Due to stereotyping and cultural generalization, the problem of the self-fulfilling prophecy can arrise

Society expects blacks to be less successful/ criminal, therefore many young AfricanAmericans give in to this image instead o fighting it

Dr. Ferguson

Fergusons point of view Writing style Praising Ferguson

Educational background

Economics
Quantify everything

Solution Communication with parents

Influence on the Society

1. Racial Segregation

Social movement: Toward Excellence with Equity Strong community with peer cultures African-American Stereotype: New Growth Opportunities Future benefits

2. 3.

Better education Good quality workforce

4. McKinsey & Company Analysis states: The persistence of these educational achievement gaps imposes on the United States the economic equivalent of a permanent national recession.

McKinsey & Company Analysis

If the United States had closed the racial achievement gap and black and Latino student performance had caught up with that of white students by 1998, GDP in 2008 would have been between $310 billion and $525 billion higher, or roughly 2 to 4 percent of

McKinsey & Company Analysis